Download PDFQhayiya Primary School, located in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, has banned informal food vendors from selling their food on the school premises.
On 19 January 2025, the school received a letter from the Department of Education. The letter was a warning to parents and learners about the dangers of buying food from spaza shops and street vendors. In the Ndlambe Municipality area, there were several alleged food poisoning incidents. Several children allegedly got sick after buying food from the local spaza shops, and street vendors. Others reportedly ultimately died as a result.
The principal of Qhayiya Primary School, Nontombi Funde, told parents that they must check everything their children eat to ensure it’s not expired or contaminated. The check would be a preventative measure by parents to reduce the risk of food poisoning in their children.
The principal, also a resident of Bathurst, called the street vendors that operate at school to a meeting. She explained to them that the school would not allow them to sell at the school anymore. Funde said their goods were suspected to be the reason behind learners getting sick and sometimes dying.
Street vendor, Nombeko Mwanda, 55, who sells chocolates, sweets, and snacks that children enjoy says, she sells these things to children to meet community needs. Mwanda said her goods are affordable.
“The announcement made by the principal felt unfair especially to us street vendors, as we are trying to make a living, and we are also feeding our children,” said Mwanda.
She concluded that she did not have any idea what to do as she felt that her bread was being taken away. The food vendor said she is getting old and employment opportunities for her are slim, almost non-existent. She hopes that the principal and school will reconsider their decision and allowing them to make a living selling at the school again.
Lulama Mafumana, a community member and a parent to a seven-year-old, said she fears for her child. Mafumana said she would always give her child money to carry to school together with a lunch box.
Sadly, the government isn’t doing enough to enforce food safety laws and because of this, many people are losing their livelihoods. The community needs to find ways to ensure food safety so that everyone is protected.
Even the big supermarkets must also be monitored. The listeriosis crisis which left at least 218 people dead, started at retailers like Tiger Brands. It also affected shops like Woolworths, and Checkers, who all had to recall foodstuffs.
The women who sell food at schools have been doing so for years, it’s unfair that they’re being blamed and punished for these recent food poisoning incidents. The government should investigate the problem and bring back food inspectors to keep everyone in the communities safe.
This article was submitted on 20 January 2025. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
